BS: What would you want on your headstone?

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Micca
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 06:35 AM

Morty, What about (it seems strangely appropriate, in memory of a certain Holiday and joke worn thin, did he ever get beyond the one line??)
" A Far Coolin is calling me away...."

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 06:07 AM

Vacant

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Tam the bam fraeSaltcoatsScotland
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 05:16 AM

When I die, if I'm cremeted I would like the song 'light my fire'

And on my headstone if I'm buried 'what the fuck'

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 03:25 AM

My own favoured epitaph is a line from a Dylan Thomas poem. "The force that through the green fuse, drives the flower" It sort of seems to me to say that you're still doing some good after you've gone. Of course being a Scot I should be choosing lines from Robert Burns, and there are too many to name, but "A man's a man for a' that" springs to mind. Whatever Mortie, I'm sure that the appropriate words will come to you eventually, good luck in your search.
Failte.....Giok

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Big Tim
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 02:11 AM

I'll leave it up to my kids /wife but I do like Yeats'"Cast a cold eye on life and death, horseman pass by".

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Bert
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 02:00 AM

When Lou died ten years ago, we sprinkled her ashes in the mountains and planted four dozen bristle cone pines. I went up there recently and many of them are thriving. Good ashes I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Amos
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 01:38 AM

The thing I have never gotten my wits around is the tendency in normal speech to refer to one's remains as "I". It's kinda funny. You usually wouldn't think of discarded socks as "me", or be much concerned about the part of you that still occupied that long-since-junked 1969 VW Van. But we get so used to wearing these shells around, we call them ourselves, even after we've moved out!!

Dunno why these hamburgers we use as credit cards are so darn habituating, but i am sure it is symptomatic of some kinda problem! :>)

A

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 01:12 AM

Ebbie, my mom was cremated, too, and we are glad to have the marker. That's the way I plan on being done, too, so the marker will be just that, something to point out that I passed this way.

ciarili, I have ashes of 6 or 7 cats and one dog, so far. When I go, my family has orders to mix them all with my ashes and bury us together!*bg*

kat

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 01:08 AM

The author (John Lowe) of "Mary's Dream", DT #562/Laws K20, emigrated from Scotland to Virginia, USA. He was buried near Fredricksburg, but without a headstone, and his gravesite is now unknown.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: ciarili
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 11:13 PM

For all my light humour, well, I have to admit their is a certain strange satisfaction in keeping ashes. My best friend has her Olive kitty in a georgeous little glass urn with a beautiful picture of her and some candles, up on top of her china cabinet full of chachkas. I already decided that when my Tash-Tash goes, that's what I'm gonna do with her.

As for my husband, I'll probably elect to keep him, too. We're cavers, so I'll probably keep him in the battery compartment of a good-sized flashlight! Now I have to go tell him, since I just thought of that.

You know, the keeping of ashes is more convenient and less expensive than a headstone. And when you move, they go with you!

ciarili "Machiavelli's The Little Prince" - Antoine de Saint-Exupery's classic children's tale as presented by Machiavelli. The whimsy of human nature is embodied in many delightful and intriguing characters, all of whom are executed.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 10:55 PM

53Bob says above that since his body's going to be cremated, there won't be a headstone. I can see his point, but my brother, who died two years ago, and also elected to be cremated, specified that he wanted a headstone so that those he loved can come sit there and think of him. And that is what has happened. It's a lovely spot that he and his wife chose years ago; the sun is bright, the grass is green, and the sigh of the tree shading him is the loudest thing around.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: ciarili
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 09:58 PM

Mushrooms and pepperoni...oh, THAT kinda tombstone!

How 'bout:

No Parking, Made You Look, Beat Ya!, or Shhh! I'm tryin' ta sleep here...,

If it weren't waaay to long, it'd be fun to say,

"Nah, nah-nah Nah nah! Don't have to wait in line at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles again!"

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 09:53 PM

POINT THAT BAND OF ANGELS COMIN' AFTER ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT AIN'T COMFY HERE.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 09:51 PM

I USED TO HAVE BETTER DAYS (AND NIGHTS).

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Amos
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 09:29 PM

"This identity temporarily closed for repairs. Please come see us in our new, renovated identity soon."

The Management

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Amergin
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:43 PM

don't want to be buried...i want to be stuffed....and kept in the family room....

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:31 PM

What I would want on my headstone is irrelevant because i am not going to see it, but what you put on your late husbands depends what he was like, what was his hobbies/interests, did he like sport? Perhaps you could put a picture of his team, or if you don't want it too flashy just his team colours.What are the other headstones like in the cemetry? If they are all white marble and you put black granite it will stand out a mile.You can have almost anything etched onto a headstone in almost any colour.Do you paint or draw? If so you could take your own design in.My dad was a horseracing fan, so i put a picture of racehorses on his headstone.Whatever you decide, be sure to shop around as the price differences can be enormous, my dad's was 250pounds,(picture headstone in polished black granite) from Clyens (a local independent memorial mason) I was qouted 3 times that by the funeral director.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: late 'n short 2
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:27 PM

"It's all about the -"

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Banjer
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:23 PM

If I do have a headstone, it will have to say something like, VACANCY or how about Gone to P, Leave My Bier Alone

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: aussiebloke
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:23 PM

I want a parking meter - displaying: "expired", or alternately, the simple words: "Kids liked him"...

aussiebloke

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:12 PM

Kat - Understood. I've just never been interested in headstones, myself, nor had the inclination to visit gravesites or look at old pictures. I carry the memories in my mind. Those left behind will join me soon enough, I figure.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: 53
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:01 PM

I'm not going to have a headstone cause I'm going to be cremated and Glenda is going to carry me around in her guitar case, and if she dies first I'll carry her around in mine.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: X
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:59 PM

"As I am now, you shall all soon be"

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:49 PM

Two others which always come to mind and which I might consider for my own are from the Beatles' song, Blackbird:

All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise...

and/or,

All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free...

or,

Fly into the light of the dark black night.

LH - I don't think a stone is for the departed. I believe it is for those left behind. It is a tangible thing for them to take some comfort from and also to show that one's life was noted. In the case of family history, I am damn glad we have them as they tell many incredible stories of old times. Though, I do believe, as you do, it won't make a difference to my soul, for I will be off in other realms.

Maybe mine will just say Kat....laughing

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:48 PM

I want mine to read "1947 - 2050".

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: John Gray
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:45 PM

Out to lunch, back in five minutes.

JG/FME

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:40 PM

Remember that the more you want carved, the more it's going to cost. Stones are NOT cheap.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:32 PM

I don't plan on having one. My soul will already be merrily off on its next escapade, so what would be the point in having a headstone?

If I did have one it would say: "Don't look for me here."

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: InOBU
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:32 PM

Hows this... Take a good look around, Beleive me, You're a long time looking at the lid!... Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Amos
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:20 PM

Doesn't matter what Spaw says -- the boys have one all bought and half-carved for him, for time of need. And it only says one thing on it:

BRRRAWWWWWWWWWMMMMPPPPPPP

A-who-hopes-he-spelled-it-right....

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: kendall
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:20 PM

I am dead serious with this, and I have told my kids that I want this: I KNEW IF I LIVED LONG ENOUGH, SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:10 PM

a search on 'epitaphs' give you MANY choices...humerous and serious....hope you find just the right thing...

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Deckman
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 06:38 PM

My daughter has already suggested this: "Dad went through life an hour early!". CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 06:36 PM

We just had one put on our mother's gravesite this past year, Mortee, and we used only her name, including maiden, dates of birth and death and used engraved images, rather than words, for expression. I haven't been to Colorado to see it, yet, but I think we had mountains and some kind of flower on it, as those were symbolic of what she loved so much. Or, it may have been a hummingbird. I'll have to ask my sister!:-)

Perhaps there is something like that which David enjoyed that you could have put on the stone?

I've seen some other humourous ones, such as "Don't be late for supper!" but somehow I don't think that's what you're looking for here.:-)

I do have the follow-up book to the Portable Curmudgeon, called the Portable Curmudgeon Redux from which I could include a few quotes. It's done alphabetically, by subject and some of them are really good. Let me know some subjects and I'll see what I can find. A for instance is this quote from KAtherine Hepburn: Death will be a great relief. No more interviews.

Then there's Rick's favourite hero, Quentin Crisp's words, You fall out of your mother's womb, you crawl across open country under fire, and drop into your grave.

Here's one of my favs, by James Thurber: If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.

Here's a paraphrase and turnabout of another: You had to stand in line to love him.

Here are a few others:

It is a curious thing...that every creed promises a paradise which will be absolutely uninhabitable for anyone of civilized taste. - Evelyn Waugh -

Such is the human race, often it seems a pity that Noah...didn't miss the boat. - Mark Twain -

Everyone would like to behave like a pagan, with everyone else behaving like a Christian. - Albert Camus -

We are not hypocrits in our sleep. -William Hazlitt -

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: GUEST,Dagenham Doc
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 06:31 PM

gnu I thought yours would be" They told me not to play with guns".

Doc.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Joe_F
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 06:18 PM

He got around to everything eventually.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: gnu
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 05:51 PM

Well, since I am one who celebrates life, and death, in a humourous way, I always thought I would like to "speak" to those who might view my headstone in the same way. Morticia, with the greatest respect, dear, I offer the following as humourous....

"See you soon."

"Why aren't you fishing ?"

"Are those flowers for me ?"

I have a dozen others I have thought of, but they really aren't very PC.... not even close to the ones above, which are disrespectful, at the very least. But I will have one of them on my stone.

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 05:43 PM

"Sorry, I'll be here later."

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 05:38 PM

"Well - I don't have to pay taxes anymore ! "

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 05:33 PM

We put "Call When You Get There" on my mom and dad's. I personally like "No Visitors"

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 05:12 PM

Well I was going to say "I told you I was sick" but clinton got there first. So I suppose "The next round is on you!!!!"

Jez would have " I'll be back!" and knowing her she would!!!!

cat x

Subject: RE: BS: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 05:08 PM

I've always been fond of

"I told you I was sick"

Or

"Oh sh!t, I'm dead!"

Or

"You're standing on my nuts"

;-)

Subject: What would you want on your headstone?
From: Morticia
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 05:06 PM

Well, the time has finally come and David has gone flat enough to put up a stone....his neighbours were way ahead of him, I don't think he was trying :)

David, for those who don't know was my first husband, father of my kids and died in May last year, aged 41.Anyway, we are casting around for what to put on the stone.....most of the ones I've seen would ( to pinch Sinsull's phrase;thanks Sins)put me in a diabetic coma.Any suggestions or thoughts would be gratefully received.